STRENGTHENING FORENSIC DOCUMENTATION: ADVANCING JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMID RISING DEATHS IN CUSTODY

STRENGTHENING FORENSIC DOCUMENTATION: ADVANCING JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY AMID RISING DEATHS IN CUSTODY

By Stella Ranji 

Nairobi, Kenya, 6th November 2025

Kenya is grappling with a disturbing surge in deaths occurring in police custody — a grim indicator of deep-rooted flaws within the country’s justice and accountability systems. According to recent findings by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), at least 17 deaths in custody were documented between 2024 and 2025. The deaths occurred across police stations, remand facilities, and prisons in at least ten counties, including Nairobi, Nakuru, Murang’a, Siaya, Mombasa, Kakamega, and Busia.

In the wake of heightened protests and public unrest, IMLU facilitated over 80 autopsies in 2025 alone, documenting 59 deaths through forensic investigations and 17 custodial deaths. The organization’s findings expose a pattern of physical trauma, neglect, and possible cover-ups.
Postmortem examinations conducted by IMLU’s network of forensic pathologists revealed chilling details: causes of death ranged from cardiorespiratory failure and cardiogenic shock due to multiple injuries — suggestive of physical assault — to asphyxiation and hanging, in some cases pointing to possible staged suicides. Others exhibited severe head injuries with brain contusions and subdural hematomas, indicative of repeated blunt-force trauma and a lack of timely medical intervention.

Each case, IMLU notes, represents a personal tragedy and a collective failure by the state to uphold its constitutional obligations. Under Article 26 of the Constitution, every individual has the right to life, while Article 29 safeguards all persons from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. Yet, despite these guarantees, many families remain without answers as investigations stagnate and justice is repeatedly deferred.
In response to these alarming trends, IMLU, with support from the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), has launched a renewed push to strengthen forensic capacity and enhance accountability. This week, the organization has convened a three-day forensic documentation training in Nairobi for pathologists and lawyers from its national network.
The workshop is being facilitated by internationally renowned experts, including Prof. Dr. Djordje Alempijevic, former head of the Forensic Department at Belgrade University and a member of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, and Prof. James Lin, a leading trainer with the Istanbul Protocol Programme.

Speaking at the opening of the training, IMLU representatives underscored the importance of forensic documentation as a critical tool for justice and prevention. “Every autopsy, every forensic report, is a voice for those who can no longer speak for themselves,” one facilitator emphasized. “By strengthening forensic standards and ensuring proper documentation, we not only seek truth but also help dismantle the culture of impunity.”

As Kenya continues to confront the reality of deaths in custody, IMLU’s initiative signals a renewed commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability — a step towards restoring faith in the justice system and upholding the fundamental right to life and dignity for all.

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